With Stroman Opting Out Where Does That Leave The Met Rotation? By Rich Coutinho Met Beat Reporter The New York Extra/TheNYExtra.com

During the off-season we all watched the Mets add depth to their starting rotation by obtaining both Michael Wacha and Rick Porcello via free agency after dealing for Marcus Stroman at the trade deadline. That seems like decades ago as this once deep Met rotation have been saddled with injuries and today Marcus Stroman, already on the injured list, decided to opt out due to overall Corona Virus concerns.

Of course, The Mets lost Noah Syndergaard earlier this year to Tommy John surgery and most recently Michael Wacha hit the injured list. Add in the Stroman news and that once deep Met rotation is so razor thin with Jacob deGrom , Steven Matz and David Peterson along with Rick Porcello compromising the entire arsenal.

I think the Mets will look outside the organization but it is my firm belief the answer to their issues might be on the roster already. Back in 2016, both Robert Gsellman and Seth Lugo was so valuable to the team as they both were forced into the rotation and that duo bailed the Mets out helping them land a playoff berth.

Lugo is very valuable in the pen right now closing games so Gsellman might be the choice here at least until Wacha returns from the injured list. I have always liked his stuff and it plays well as a starter which could really help the team.

You also always have the option of every fifth day using an opener and utilizing your bullpen depth but even in a short season that could wear down your bullpen in a hurry. This lack of depth also makes David Peterson so important moving him up in the depth chart below deGrom and Matz and above Porcello.

But make no mistake–Stroman is a tough loss as combined with Thor and Wacha 60% of your rotation is sitting on the sidelines which will put even more pressure on their offense and bullpen. But for Robert Gsellman this is the chance he has been waiting for and in this truncated season, he could reaffirm what he showed back in 2016–he could excel as a starting pitcher.

Luis Rojas and the Mets certainly hope that is the case and as we have seen from David Peterson this Met team is getting help from unlikely sources and Gsellman would certainly fit into that category.